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Functional Skills and Apprenticeships |
What are Functional Skills?Functional Skills are a key element of the 14-19 reforms introduced by the Government and comprise of practical skills in English, Mathematics and ICT. These qualifications are suitable for learners of all ages, providing them with the essential knowledge, skills and understanding to enable them to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life and work.
People who possess the skills assessed by Functional Skills will be able to participate and progress in education, training and employment. They will also be able to develop and secure the broader range of aptitudes, attitudes and behaviours that will enable them to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work.
Functional Skills in English, Mathematics and ICT are available at Entry Levels 1,2,3 and at Level 1 and Level 2. From September 2012 they replace the key skills of Communication, Application of Number and Information and Communication Technology at the relevant levels.
Functional Skills relate to England only. The UK equivalents are Essential Skills Wales, Core Skills in Scotland and Essential Skills in Northern Ireland
Who Needs to Complete Functional Skills?All learners undertaking an Apprenticeship or Advanced Apprenticeships will need to either complete the relevant Functional Skills as part of their award or prove their exemption.
Exemptions from Functional Skills: - Learners who have already achieved Key Skills (within the last five years) at the relevant level for the qualification they are taking, regardless of the programme through which it was gained, will be exempt from Function Skills qualifications, deemed as a mandatory element of their programme.
- Learners with GCSE A*-C grades in one or all of the GCSEs: English, Mathematics and ICT (achieved within the last five years) are exempt from Functional Skills qualifications deemed as a mandatory element of their programme.
To complete an Apprenticeship placement at Level 2 a learner should be at Entry Level 3 Standard for Functional Skills (the level equivalent to a 13-16 year old).
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| The First reason | Functional Skills underpin everything you do, at school, at college, at work and at home. - You are communicating all the time.
- You use ICT more and more every day.
- Numbers are at the heart of much of what you do at school, at college, at home and at work.
- You will know people and work well with others, you will be well organised, and seem to be able to tackle problems effectively. You’ll get the best out of your studies, get the good grades, and get on well at work and in life in general.
That's the first reason for doing Functional Skills. If you get better at them, you will get better results in your GCSEs, A levels, or NVQs and Technical Certificates. If you can: - Get better at discussion, speaking, listening and writing.
- Find and process information in all its forms.
- Use numbers more confidently.
- Get the best out of ICT.
Then you will get better grades, whatever subjects you are doing. Similarly:- Improving own learning and performance helps you learn how to manage your time and your work or study programme.
- Working with others shows you how to get the best out of working in groups and teams.
- Problem solving helps you develop a systematic approach to tackling the problems, large and small, that will always crop up in your studies, work and everyday life.
Functional Skills are really not so new. You are using them already, all the time. What's new is that you are being given the chance to get better at them and to get a qualification that shows how good you are. |
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| The Second reason | Applying for a jobIn recent surveys of employers, they said that they were looking for applicants who: - Can communicate effectively, including with customers.
- Can work in teams, with good interpersonal skills.
- Can solve problems.
- Are numerate and literate.
- Have good ICT skills.
- Are willing and able to learn.
- Are flexible in their approach to work.
If you aim to do an Apprenticeship when you leave school or college, you will find that Functional Skills are compulsory. As part of an Apprenticeship, you have to get Communication and Application of Number at Level 1, plus any other Functional Skills that your particular Apprenticeship framework requires. For an Advanced Apprenticeship, you have to get two Functional Skills at Level 2, plus any others that your particular framework requires. So, it must make sense to get them “in the bag” before you start the training programme, and it will certainly help with your application. Applying to university: Functional Skills can also help you get into university. There are UCAS points for all six Functional Skills, as follows: - Level2 - 10 points
- Level3 - 20 points
- Level4 - 30 points
So, if you get three Functional Skills at Level 3, you will have 60 points, which is the same points value as an AS at grade A or an A level at grade D. Evidence of your Functional Skills achievements is specifically called for in Section 7 of the UCAS form. Most universities emphasise the value of Functional Skills in their entry profiles, particularly Communication and Improving Own Learning and Performance, even if they don't always use the same names for them. Many degree courses include Functional Skills development, and some universities find that they have to lay on special courses to help their students get up to the standard of English, Maths and ICT that they need. If you have achieved Functional Skills, you are less likely to have to attend these courses. |
| The Third reason |
This takes us back to the first reason. There is plenty of evidence, and in any case it is common sense, that people who are good at communicating (both in writing and in talking) and at handling numbers and ICT, work well with other people, are well organised, and can tackle the problems that life throws at you all the time, will be both happier and more successful.
The point of Functional Skills is that you apply them in your other studies and in your work, to get results. You use Functional Skills with a purpose – to get things done. GCSEs give you the underpinning techniques; Functional Skills show you how to use them.
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